Y-SPACE Conference with 22 national youth councils in the German Bundestag

Under the title "The future of the Council of Europe after the 4th Summit of the Council of Europe", the representatives of 22 national youth councils discussed youth policy perspectives for the Council of Europe after the "Rekjavík Declaration" with political decision-makers. In this declaration, the heads of state and government at the 4th Summit of the Council of Europe in May 2023 stated that democracy, freedom and human rights are not inherent. The Reykjavík Principles for Democracy are therefore intended to provide a framework for shaping the future of the Council of Europe and its shared values.

In the declaration, the heads of state and government assigned a central role to youth, which raised important questions for the Y-SPACE Youth Conference in the Bundestag: What consequences does the Reykjavík Declaration have for the participation of young people? Where is implementation lagging behind? What does the Council of Europe offer young people? And how can their voices be more present in the Council of Europe's decision-making processes in the future?

National youth councils with practical demands on national and European policy 

In the final declaration of the Y-SPACE Youth Conference, the participants emphasized: All processes to strengthen democracy and shape the future of the Council of Europe as an institution must include the active participation of young people and their representative bodies such as the Advisory Council on Youth, the European Youth Forum and the national youth councils. The delegates presented practical demands and recommendations for action to the members of the German delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

These demands aim to improve the realities of young people's lives, consider aspects such as environmental rights and the regulation of artificial intelligence and take into account the youth policy structures in the member states. Specific examples include supporting Ukrainian youth organizations, lowering the voting age to 16 in all Council of Europe member states and ensuring equal access to digital opportunities.

High-level politicians are impressed by young commitment

In her speech, the President of the Bundestag, Bärbel Bas, emphasized the committed and self-confident attitude with which the delegates stood up for their demands and for youth participation: "We need participation and initiative. Especially from young people who want to make a difference. And who are moved by many things in a similar way, even though they come from different countries and have had different experiences. That's why this youth conference is so important."

In addition to thematic work, Y-SPACE offered a platform for constructive discussions on the role of young people vis-à-vis decision-makers in political processes. Political participants in the debate included Bundestag Vice-President Aydan Özoğuz, Head of the German Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Frank Schwabe, President of the European Youth Forum María Rodríguez Alcázar, Head of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe Tobias Flessenkemper, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Despina Chatzivassiliou-Tsovilis and Bernd Föhringer, President of Chamber of Local Authorities of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

Y-SPACE a step on the long road to protecting democracy and human rights across Europe

Özge Erdoğan, Deputy Chair of the German Federal Youth Council, appealed to all decision-makers in the Council of Europe to implement the demands of young people quickly and decisively: "Only through close cooperation between the Council of Europe and national youth councils can human rights, democracy and the rule of law be preserved and improved in Europe. The conference shows the strong contribution made by young people. Now it is up to the Council of Europe to implement the demands and systematically implement youth participation. Real participation means structural participation in decision-making processes."

Raoul Taschinski, Deputy Chair of the German Federal Youth Council, added: "With the youth conference, we show our support: We stand firmly on the side of young civil society, which is increasingly under pressure and whose rights in Europe are being restricted by authoritarian governments. All those national youth councils that have been forced into exile or opposition have high hopes for the Council of Europe. Politicians and decision-makers must recognize the countless contributions of young people to the common good and work together with civil society to strengthen democracy and human rights in Europe."

PACE Head of Delegation Frank Schwabe announced that he would invite the representatives of the national youth councils to another conference at the German Bundestag next year. The Y-SPACE 2024 youth conference will take place in the special context of the European elections and the 75th anniversaries of the Council of Europe and the German Federal Youth Council.